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Harris: Obama Knew Of Blagojevich Plot – Chicago Sun-Times

A top aide to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he believed Barack Obama knew of Blagojevich’s plot to win himself a presidential Cabinet post in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate.

John Harris, Blagojevich’s former chief of staff, testified Wednesday in the former governor’s corruption trial that three days after the Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election, the ex-governor told Harris he felt confident Obama knew he wanted to swap perks.

“The president understands that the governor would be willing to make the appointment of Valerie Jarrett as long as he gets what he’s asked for… The governor gets the Cabinet appointment he’s asked for,” Harris said, explaining a recorded call.

Harris said Blagojevich came away believing Obama knew what he wanted after having a conversation with a local union representative, who in turn spoke with labor leader Tom Balanoff, with whom Blagojevich met to discuss a Jarrett appointment. Jarrett, now a White House adviser, was seeking the appointment to Obama’s Senate seat.

Defense lawyers say Harris’ testimony contradicts the government’s previous public statements that Obama knew nothing about deal-making involving the Senate seat appointment.

The defense on Wednesday moved to force the prosecution to turn over FBI reports of Obama’s interview with federal agents in December of 2008. Obama is not accused of wrongdoing.

“Testimony elicited by the government from John Harris and wiretaps played in court raise the issue of President Obama’s direct knowledge and communication with emissaries and others regarding the appointment to his Senate seat,” lawyers wrote in the filing.

The filing came on the trial’s third day of the extensive playback of recordings in which Blagojevich is heard repeatedly discussing ways to personally capitalize on his Senate seat appointment power. Blagojevich could be heard plotting to try to head up a charity; swearing and snapping at his wife, Patti, and dismissing the possibility of a federal position that pays $190,000 a year.

“I make $170… So Fred, that has no appeal to me… I want to make money,” Blagojevich tells national Democratic consultant Fred Yang. “I might as well go out and find a way to make money.”

Obama’s 2008 internal report about his staff’s contacts with Blagojevich at the time indicates that Balanoff relayed to Jarrett that Blagojevich was interested in a Health and Human Services Cabinet post.

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Biggest Wall Street Revamp Since 1930s Approved – Businessweek

Congressional negotiators today approved the most sweeping overhaul of U.S. financial regulation since the Great Depression, reshaping oversight of Wall Street.

Lawmakers from the House and Senate worked through the night in a 20-hour session to reach deals on a ban on proprietary trading by banks and oversight of the derivatives market.

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Powerful Storm Rips Through Bridgeport Connecticut – Chicago Tribune

Some parts of the city looked untouched. And then there were the sections that in the words of the mayor looked like Godzilla came in and ripped off roofs, knocked down buildings and toppled trees.

“This was a very powerful storm,” Mayor Bill Finch said. “We’re just going to have to get through this like we have to get through everything.” Nine buildings were partially or fully collapsed.

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Julia Gillard Becomes Australia’s First Woman PM – Yahoo News

Julia Gillard was announced on Thursday as Australia;s first woman prime minister after Kevin Rudd stepped down in tears as the ruling Labour Party’s leader at a ballot meeting.

Gillard, who said that she was :honoured: to head the country, will now decide when to lead the party into the next election. She will be sworn in as prime minister by Governor- General Quentin Bryce at 12.30pm.

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Government Loses Bid To Keep Oil Drilling Ban – Reuters

The Obama administration lost a legal skirmish on Thursday when a judge refused to put on hold his decision lifting a ban on deepwater oil drilling imposed after the worst spill in U.S. history.

After striking down the moratorium on Tuesday, a federal judge in New Orleans rejected a request to allow the six-month ban to stand while the government appeals his decision.

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Former VP Al Gore Accused Of Sexual Assault – The Portlander

In December 2006, a local attorney contacted the Portland Police Bureau and said he had a client that wanted to report an unwanted sexual contact by Mr. Gore.

This allegation stemmed from an incident on October 24, 2006, when the woman involved, a Licensed Massage Therapist, was called to a local hotel to provide a massage to Mr. Gore.

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Radical Progressive Leader Compares U.S. Border Patrol Agents To KKK – First Things

Radical progressive (i.e. socialist) leader Elena Herrada told attendees at the US Social Forum in Detroit this week that US Border Patrol agents are just like the KKK.

The US Social Forum is a MAJOR gathering of radical liberal activists, community organizers, and union leaders. Their slogan is “another world is possible, another U.S. is necessary”.

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Greece Starts Putting Island Land Up For Sale To Save Economy – The Guardian

Greece is preparing to sell, or offering long-term leases on, some of its 6,000 sunkissed islands in a desperate attempt to repay its mountainous debts.

An area in Mykonos is one of the sites for sale. The area is one-third owned by the government, which is looking for a buyer willing to inject capital and develop a luxury tourism complex

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